I've been looking high and low for not only cool apps on my iPhone that I could use with my guitar, like effects apps, and amps, but also for devices to easily attach my guitar to the iPhone. What I've found is that there's plenty of options out there, but there's also some important things to know. This page helps explain these.
First you can connect your guitar to your iDevice with specialized adapters (they have a special advantage which I'll mention in a moment), simple cables, through outboard effects gear, preamps, or direct boxes. Yep, that's a lot of options, and the list grows as companies are filling the need in the guitarist's heart to turn the iPhone into a portable studio.
So before we move on, why connect your guitar to your iPod or iPhone to start with? Well, where do I start. There are a ton a great apps out there designed just for your guitar. These range from amps to special effects to drum machines, and multi-track recorders. In short we're quickly moving to iDevice as an all in one production studio. Many of these apps already work together through cut and paste.
Specialized adapters for your guitar include the iRig, and others. These adapters are designed specifically for the iPhone or iPad so that they will match impedance with your guitar and the iDevice as well as be comfortable and convenient to use. They also tend to come with their own special iPhone apps.
Cables are just that. You plug your guitar into the AV mini cable through a 1/4 inch jack on one side, and to your iPhone on the other side. For a list of current iPhone and iPod guitar adapters and cables that I found click the link in this sentence. This method with some apps will result in a weak signal.
Outboard effects units, preamps, and direct boxes are basically connected through same 1/4 cables as above except you can add a stomp box in the chain for example and get distortion or delay, you name it, right into your iDevice. The additional benefit of this is the effects unit or direct box will usually match impedance of the iphone to the guitar and so your signal will remain strong.
For a really great list of how to connect your ipod, ipad, or iphone to your guitar with cables and adapters please visit the link in this sentence. This is the best article I've found on the subject so far.
Have a great time with your guitar and your iDevice!
